Improvement in machines for removing snow from railway-tracks



. 2 sheets -sheet 1. P. 8|. 1. H. BAKER. I

Machines for Removing Snow frum'Bailway-Tracks.

N0, 154,114 Patented Aug.18,1874.

WITNESS.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOTD'LlTN-39& 4| PARK PLACE, NY.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

PRINCE BAKER AND JAMES H. BAKER, OF MIRAMIOHI, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR REMOVING SNOW FROM RAILWAY-TRACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,114, dated August18, 1874; application filed August 27, 1873.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PRINCE BAKER and JAMES H. BAKER, of Miramichi, inthe county of Northumberland, in the Province of New Brunswick andDominion of Canada, have invented an Improved Steam Snow- Shovel, ofwhich the following is a specification:

This machine, together with a separate steamengine for the purpose ofoperating the revolving shovels, is to be placed upon wheels, the wholeto be driven ahead by the locomotive. The revolving shovels may be thusdriven at a uniform rate of speed independently of the movement of thelocomotive, so that the snow may be thrown to the same distance from thetrack when the locomotive is moving slowly as when it is moving at itsgreatest speed. Our

invention also consists in a backing-out scoop hinged to the machine,and arranged with suitable mechanism, so as to be raised or lowered atpleasure.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine with the side removed, inorder to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing thebacking-out scoop in its proper position near the track. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing thebacking-out scoop as elevated preparatory to striking down upon thesnow-drift. Fig. 5 shows the manner of holding the backing-out scoopupon the forward part of the machine when not in use. Fig. 6 is a planview, showing the revolving shovels as inclined to the axis of themachine.

In the drawing, A isthe inclined apron, which serves to raise the snowfrom the track and bring it in contact with the revolving shovels B and(l. The revolving shovel (l and gear F are keyed to the shaft D, whichruns in the bearings 01 d,'and the revolving shovel B and bevel-gear Eare attached to a hollow shaft turning loosely upon the shaft D. Thegears E and F engage with the horizontal gear G upon the upright shaftH. Thus the shovels B and G will be caused to revolve in oppositedirections. The blades 12 b b and c c c are made concave, as shown, inorder to obtain a better hold of the loose snow forced upon the apron A.I is a partition between the shovelroom and the engine-room J. Anysuitable engine may be employed to operate the shov- I els, beingsuitably connected to the upright shaft H. K is a curved guide for thesnow, which is to be thrown out at the opening L by means of the shovelB, and a similar guide is used in connection with the shovel O to throwthe snow out of the opening M. The backingout scoop N is attached to themovable arms 0 O, and is to be used in a very deep cut, where the snowis liable to drift to so great height that it cannot be removed by therevolving shovels, or in case of a light snow, which might be turned toeither side without the use of the shovels. The outside of the scoop,owing to its pointed form, may be used as an ordinary snow-plow. Thearms (1' O are attached to the ends of a shaft, P, by means of the slotsQ Q and screws B B. The shaft P is caused to rock, in order to raise andlower the scoop N, by means of the segment S and the pinion T, to whichan alternating rotary motion may be imparted through the shaft U.

The scoop N may be operated as follows: First extend the arms 0 O totheir full length, and make all fast by means of the screws R R, andadjust the scoop, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, by means of the bolts VV, which are to enter theholes c c; then, by means of the machinery inthe engine-room J, hoist the scoop as high as possible, as shown in Fig.4; then move forward into the snow, and drop the scoop down to thetrack, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; then move back to a suitable distance,and hoist up the scoop, and move forward again into the snow, wherebythe load previously taken by the scoop will be caused to rise upon theapron A, and be thrown away by the quickly-revolving shovels B and G;then again lower the scoop into the fresh snow, and draw back, asbefore, and so continue the operation until the passage is opened.

The foregoing operation may be varied, however, as follows: First moveforward into the snow, and drop the scoop; then moveback to a suitabledistance to deposit the load; then raise the scoop, and move stillfarther back; then drop the scoop and move forward, and the inclinationof the sides of the scoop, operating as a plow, will cause the snow tobe de posited upon each side of the track. When the exterior portion ofthe scoop N is to be used as a plow, as in case of a very light snow,

let it down in front of the shovel-box, as in Fig. 2, and screw thebolts fast,'and all will be in order for going ahead.

When the revolving shovels B and O are to be used by themselves, thescoop N is to be hoisted point upward, and hung upon the hook W, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5. The shovels B and 0, instead of operating atright angles to the axis of the machine, may be arranged to throw thesnow backward at an angle, as shown in Fig. 6.

We claim as our invention 1. The revolving shovel G, placed upon acentral shaft, and the oppositelyrevolving shovel B, attached to ahollow shaft, in combination with the apron A and curved guides K,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The scoop N, combined with the arms 0 O, to operate substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the scoop N with the apron A and revolving shovelsB and 0, substantially as described.

PRINCE BAKER. JAMES H. BAKER. Witnesses:

ANTHONY ADAMS, GEORGE GORDON;

